Exercising After Baby

During pregnancy, it’s good to gain a certain amount of weight. This is used to support your growing child and to provide the extra calories when you start breastfeeding. New mothers naturally lose weight after the birth; however, if you don’t lose the weight because of gaining too much weight, or other reasons, it can be hard to take off the rest.

Here are some tips to help you get on track with your exercise plan:

Involve your baby
Don’t wait till your child is asleep to try to get a decent workout. Get a baby sling so you can go for a walk with your baby.

Don’t start too soon
Whether you’ve had a vaginal delivery or a C-section, your body has gone through quite a bit. If you start a workout routine too soon, it can be damaging to your health. It’s usually recommended to wait 6 weeks before you start trying to workout; however, if you had a vaginal delivery, you can use those first 6 weeks to strengthen your vaginal muscles and start stretching exercises. Just be sure to check with your doctor before you start any exercise program.

Don’t work too hard
It’s pretty likely that you haven’t been able to do a normal workout for at least a few months, maybe more. Just like starting any exercise program, you should not start full force straight away. Trying to do too much is likely to do more harm than good. Before you start working out, ask your doctor for recommended exercises and how often you should do them. Remember, if you hurt yourself, you’re not going to be able to take as good care of your baby.

Fit exercise into your schedule
While having a regular routine is helpful, it’s almost impossible to get a baby to conform to your schedule. This means you have to change your schedule to fit your baby’s. You’ll probably have to squeeze in workouts where you can. Choose exercises that you can do in different places at different times. Get an exercise tape or something else you can do at home. You should also remember that two 15 minute workouts or three 10 minute workouts can be just as helpful as a half hour workout. If you can set a rigid workout schedule, that’s great. If you can’t, set a looser schedule (I will workout for thirty minutes before I go to bed) and be sure to stick with it.

Getting back in shape after a baby can be difficult, but with time, patience, and planning, you too can get back to your healthy self.

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Exercises for Mom and Baby

If you’re a new mom, you probably know that getting exercise can be tough. Taking care of a baby can take up a lot of your energy. It’s often difficult to find someone to watch the baby while you go to the gym or you may not want to leave the baby with someone yet. To stay healthy and take off those extra pounds, try incorporating your baby into your workout routine. This way, baby can be entertained and you can work up a sweat. Plus, once you’re used to it, exercise can give you a great energy boost to get through your long day. Here are some great exercises to try today:

Walking
There are some great multi-terrain strollers that you can use for walks with your baby. You can also buy a sling and go for walks with your baby. This will make your baby easier to tote around with you. Plus a great walk can be a great way to stimulate your baby with new sights, sounds and smells.

Running and Biking
Instead of buying expensive workout equipment, why not check out the specialized strollers the next time you’re at a sport supply store? They make devices specifically for running and biking safely with your child. And like walking, this also exposes your baby to new stimuli.

Move, Shake, and Dance with your Baby
Next time your baby is crying, instead of jiggling and rocking them, try putting them in a sling and dancing with them. If this doesn’t work to quiet them, you can still do it when they’re happy.

Take a Class
Take a look online or at a local gym. You can probably find a class in your area designed to give you and your baby a workout at the same time. If you’re serious about getting in shape with your baby, find a personal trainer who’s also a mom, or who specializes in pre/post natal fitness. She’ll be able to give you exercises you can not only do with your baby, but also exercises that are tailored specifically to you.

Working out with your baby can not only get you back into shape, it can also give your baby the stimulation they need to lead an active, healthy life. Just remember to be safe and always make sure your baby is secure.

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